diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/util/GlobalProperties.java b/core/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/util/GlobalProperties.java
index cbb82f88129..ad5612c6721 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/util/GlobalProperties.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/mskcc/cbio/portal/util/GlobalProperties.java
@@ -1262,4 +1262,20 @@ public static String getReferenceGenomeName() {
     public static String getOncoKbToken()  {
         return portalProperties.getProperty(ONCOKB_TOKEN, null);
     }
+
+    public static String getDownloadControl() {
+        String downloadControlOption = getProperty("skin.hide_download_controls");
+        /*
+            skin.hide_download_controls   return_value
+                    true                    hide
+                    false                   show
+                    data                    data
+                    null/empty              show
+         */
+        switch ((downloadControlOption != null) ? downloadControlOption.trim().toLowerCase() : "false") {
+            case "true" : return "hide";
+            case "data" : return "data";
+            default: return "show";
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/docs/deployment/customization/Customizing-your-instance-of-cBioPortal.md b/docs/deployment/customization/Customizing-your-instance-of-cBioPortal.md
index feee782f5cc..b20f514cc23 100644
--- a/docs/deployment/customization/Customizing-your-instance-of-cBioPortal.md
+++ b/docs/deployment/customization/Customizing-your-instance-of-cBioPortal.md
@@ -243,11 +243,9 @@ Below you can find the complete list of all the available skin properties.
         </tr>
 		<tr>
             <td>skin.hide_download_controls</td>
-            <td>removes all download and copy-to-clipboard options.</td>
-            <td>show</td>
-            <td>
-                string. "show" enables all download and copy-to-clipboard options. "data" disables data download but keeps figure and top-level data. "hide" disables all the download and copy-to-keyboard options.
-            </td>
+            <td>controls download options in UI. **true**: hides all download options. **false**:  shows all download options. **data**: disable data download but not figure download</td>
+            <td>false</td>
+            <td>true / false / data</td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
             <td>skin.show_settings_menu</td>
diff --git a/portal/src/main/webapp/config_service.jsp b/portal/src/main/webapp/config_service.jsp
index 79e16e74df7..3dba7cba8c2 100644
--- a/portal/src/main/webapp/config_service.jsp
+++ b/portal/src/main/webapp/config_service.jsp
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@
             "skin.patient_view.copy_number_table.columns.show_on_init",
             "skin.patient_view.structural_variant_table.columns.show_on_init",
             "comparison.categorical_na_values",
-            "skin.hide_download_controls",
             "study_download_url",
             "skin.home_page.show_reference_genome"
         };
@@ -203,6 +202,8 @@
         obj.put("oncoKbTokenDefined", !StringUtils.isEmpty(GlobalProperties.getOncoKbToken()));
 
         obj.put("sessionServiceEnabled", !StringUtils.isEmpty(GlobalProperties.getSessionServiceUrl()));
+        
+        obj.put("skin_hide_download_controls", GlobalProperties.getDownloadControl());
 
         out.println(obj.toJSONString());
 
diff --git a/src/main/resources/portal.properties.EXAMPLE b/src/main/resources/portal.properties.EXAMPLE
index 408b7ccd3c4..ce06c5554df 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/portal.properties.EXAMPLE
+++ b/src/main/resources/portal.properties.EXAMPLE
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ skin.study_view.link_text=To build your own case set, try out our enhanced Study
 # skin.home_page.show_reference_genome=false
 
 ## setting controlling whether Download tabs and download/copy-to-clipboard controls should be shown
-# skin.hide_download_controls=show
+# skin.hide_download_controls=false
 
 ## setting controlling which name should be used to display the authenticated user (email, or username)
 # skin.user_display_name=email